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So, why do we see the wrong poster for the ACC Rankings? Well Jay spent is hard earned time and money obtaining a new phone and that meant something somewhere had to give and that was his access to our editor. He’s working it, but in the mean time has sent up his ACC Rankings for the week, and even though Charlotte has been fixed in stone for a while, the rivalry week contests coming are definitely going to change the pictures of where bowl bids and national championship stakes happen.
Here is Jay’s ACC Big Picture before we jump into Rivalry weekend:
Atlantic
1. Clemson Tigers: The Tigers beat up on the Citadel, 61-3. Inconceivable. Next week Clemson has a pretty solid rivalry game when they face the No. 24 South Carolina Gamecocks. South Carolina will be the fifth ranked team the Tigers have faced (at the time of the match – Louisville has fallen out of the top 25 since Clemson faced them). After that… the ACC Championship game looms.
2. Wake Forest Demon Deacons: Wake Forest made another statement when they defeated NCST, 30-24. QB John Wolford has put together quite a year. This season he has been 191-292 (65.4%), thrown for 2601 yards, 23 TDs, and only four INTs. In three of his last four games he has passed for over 300 yards. In the same span Wolford has thrown 13 TDs and only two INTs. Next week WF faces a desperate Duke team fighting for a bowl.
3. Louisville Cardinals: The Cards had another offensive explosion, to say the least. Louisville generated 727 yards… This time there was someone to share the spotlight with Jackson. Cardinals RB, Malik Williams accounted for 180 rushing yards and two TDs after only carrying nine times. Jackson was also solid, passing for 270 yards, two TDs, and zero INTs. On the ground he added 111 yards on 12 carries and two more TDs. Next week Louisville looks to avenge a let-down loss from last year against in-state rival Kentucky.
4. N.C. State Wolfpack: Back to back turnovers to close out the game doomed the Wolfpack. First, a goal-line fumble halfway through the fourth kept NCST at bay. With 41 seconds left on the clock Ryan Finley threw an interception in the end zone. The ‘Pack have dropped three of their last four, but must refocus for UNC.
5. Boston College Eagles: BC qualified for a bowl after beating up on Connecticut. AJ Dillon continued to carry the Eagle offense when he went off for 200 yards and two TDs. Boston College looks to secure a winning season when they face a bruised Syracuse team.
6. Florida State Seminoles: Florida State beat Delaware State, 77-6. I’m sure congratulations are in order. Next week the Seminoles face the Florida Gators in pursuit of what they hope will be a three-game winning streak to close the year out and qualify for a bowl.
7. Syracuse Orange: The Orange just aren’t the same without Eric Dungey. With the loss Syracuse drops to 4-7, failing to qualify for a bowl game.
Coastal
1. Miami-Florida Hurricanes: Well that was a bit scary for the U, but then they had a fourth quarter and crushed the Cavaliers. Miami should easily close the regular season against Pitt and head to the ACC Championship undefeated.
2. Virginia Tech Hokies: The offense was ugly, but that goal-line stand was a thing of beauty. The Hokies squeaked back into the top 25, but better be ready to play this week when they face a rowdy Virginia squad.
3. Virginia Cavaliers: Yeah, the Hoos have lost four of their last five, but they are in the best position to defeat the Hokies in years. UVA will come to play.
4. Duke Blue Devils: Duke halted a six-game skid with a surprise win over GT to keep their bowl hopes alive. Duke played a balanced and disciplined game, defeating the Jackets by a startling 43-20 final. A win against WF is a stretch, but don’t sleep on David Cutcliffe…
5. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: Last week I said that GT losing to Duke after upsetting VT would be the most GT thing they could do. They spent the season dropping games at the end, why not drop the season at the end? Well, they didn’t disappoint. Now, if they hope to earn a bowl, they must defeat the No. 7 Georgia Bulldogs…
6. Pittsburgh Panthers: I hesitate to say that Pitt’s defense finally stepped up more than the Hokies’ offense stumbled, but the Panthers did enough to force VT into a goal line stand situation to close the game out. With the loss the Panthers fall to 4-7 and will spend bowl-season on the couch. Next week they can play for pride or a spoiler role against the No. 2 Hurricanes.
7. North Carolina Tar Heels: Hey, lookit that! The Heels put together a win streak! Granted it was against Western Carolina University, but when one is in the situation that UNC has found themselves in there is no complaining. A win is a win. Next week they face in-state rival NCST with an opportunity to pile onto what has become something of a disappointing season for the ‘Pack.
Overall Conference
1. (No. 2 AP / No. 2 Coaches) Miami-Florida Hurricanes (10-0, 7-0 ACC) – Static
2. (No. 3 / No. 4) Clemson Tigers (10-1, 7-1 ACC) – Static
3. (No. 25 / No. 24) Virginia Tech Hokies (8-3, 4-3 ACC) – Up One
4. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (7-4, 4-3 ACC) – Up Two
5. Louisville Cardinals (7-4, 4-4 ACC) – Up Two
6. N.C. State Wolfpack (7-4, 5-2 ACC) – Down Three
7. Boston College Eagles (6-5, 3-4 ACC) – Up Three
8. Virginia Cavaliers (6-5, 3-4 ACC) – Static
9. Duke Blue Devils (5-6, 2-5 ACC) – Up Four
10. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-5, 4-4 ACC) – Down Five
11. Florida State Seminoles (4-6, 3-5 ACC) – Up One
12. Syracuse Orange (4-7, 2-5 ACC) – Down Two
13. Pittsburgh Panthers (4-7, 2-5 ACC) – Down Two
14. North Carolina Tar Heels (3-8, 1-6 ACC) – Static
Saturday is the last day of Regular Season play for almost all of NCAA football short of the grand finale of the Army-Navy Game. It’s all Conference Championships after Thanksgiving weekend.